Gilgal (Saul)

Michmash (Saul)

Gilgal (Samuel)

Samuel condemns Saul at Gilgal. Samuel arranges to make an offering to the LORD before the battle begins. But as Samuel hasn't arrived seven days later, Saul goes ahead and makes the burnt offering himself. Samuel then arrives at Gilgal and rebukes Saul for usurping his priestly authority. Samuel condemns Saul and prophesies his downfall.

Michmash Pass (Jonathan)

Michmash (Jonathan)

Jonathan’s forces at Geba join battle at Michmash and beat the Philistines, who are in total confusion. They pursue them along the floor of the valley all the way to Beth Aven.

Jonathan unknowingly breaks his father’s orders not to eat before sunset. His father finds out and decrees that Jonathan must die; but Jonathan is saved by the Israelite men who recognize him as the hero of the day.

Shur (Saul)

Gilgal (Samuel 2)

Samuel seeks out Saul. Saul has brought sheep taken from the defeated Amalekites to offer as a sacrifice at Gilgal. But Samuel condemns him for allowing the Israelites to plunder the land. Although it is less than twelve months since Saul was anointed king, Samuel tells Saul that God has rejected him because he has disobeyed the LORD’s command.

Gibeah (David)

Gath (David)

Later that year (in c.1012BC), David kills the Philistine champion, Goliath of Gath, with a sling shot at Ephes Dammim, near Beth Shemesh in the Elah Valley (between Jerusalem and Ashkelon). The Israelites pursue the fleeing Philistines to Gath and the gates of Ekron.

Unknown (David)

David is promoted to a high-ranking position in Saul’s army, and becomes a close friend of Saul’s son Jonathan. He is given the hand of the king’s daughter Michal as a reward for killing two hundred Philistines. However, Saul soon becomes jealous of David and plots to kill him.

Ramah (David)

Nob (David)

David flees to the sanctuary at Nob, where he seeks out the priest for some food. As there is no ordinary bread available, Ahimelech gives David and his men the consecrated ‘shewbread’ to eat. (The ‘shewbread’ was a permanent display of twelve loaves, showing God’s bountiful provision of the staple food of the Israelites.) David seeks refuge with the Philistine king of Gath.

Nob (Saul)

David is forced to escape to the cave at Adullam, above the Elah Valley, before appealing for protection for his family to the king of Moab. David then hides from Saul in the Forest of Hereth. Meanwhile, Saul kills Ahimelech and the priests of Nob for aiding and abetting David.

En Gedi (David)

Desert of Paran (David)

David goes south to the Desert of Maon (Paran), south of Hebron (see 11 on Map 55). He sends some of his men to request food from Nabal, a wealthy man who lives at Carmel in Judah and owns large flocks of sheep and goats that David’s army have been protecting. Nabal refuses, but his wife, Abigail, averts further conflict by bringing food for David’s men.

Endor (Saul)

Ziglag (David)

David is sent back to Ziklag which has been attacked by the Amalekites. David pursues the Amalekite raiding party across the Negev Desert beyond the Besor Ravine and defeats them. David recovers everything the Amalekites have taken – including his two wives.